Choosing the right path

COMPLEMENTARY medicine is more popular than ever with those who are planning a change of career. T

The move invariably involves some retraining, and for people in full-time work or with family responsibilities, this has always been a problem.

However, a growing number of part-time study options are helping to make the career transition easier. Osteopathy,

a profession that has evolved from its complementary roots towards a more traditional framework, requires practitioners to be qualified to degree level in order to be registered with the General Osteopathic Council.

A five-year, part-time BSc in osteopathy is available from the London School of Osteopathy (LSO) and is open to mature students with or without previous experience in health care.

Course leader, Fiona Hamilton, said: “There are no school-leavers on the course, and the average age of our students is 35, which means that you are mixing withlike-minded people with a diverse range of life experiences.”

The part-time structure, based on weekend study, allows people to continue to earn a living while they study for the first three years.

In years four and five, students are required to spend up to two days a week working in the LSO’s own clinic, to gain the required practical experience.

“We have had people who go on to enjoy fulfilling new careers, either in their own practice or in an existing one,” added Ms Hamilton.

The College of Holistic Medicine in Glasgow offers professional training courses in therapeutic massage, life coaching and counselling and psychotherapy, the majority of which are weekend courses.

These include an eight-month life coaching course, a 10-month diploma course in therapeutic massage and a three-year advanced course in counselling.